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Friday, 22 April 2011

My, its summer! Time to celebrate the royal nuptials with some great jazz at Seven Arts Leeds during May. This coming Thursday we feature American guitarist Howard Alden with his trio, in concert with New York jazz vocalist Jeanne Gies. Later in May we have an evening with a jazz supergroup including Alan Barnes, Mark Edwards, Jeremy Price, Tony Kofi, Clark Tracey and bassman Arnie Somogyi, performing the music of jazz bassist Charles Mingus. Our Sunday afternoons this month are our usual eclectic mix featuring contemporary jazz from Matt Anderson, salsa from Como Loco, Hot-Club from Djangonauts, and two big bands – Garforth JRO and to finish the month Kim Macari’s big band celebration of the music of Scottish saxman Duncan Lamont – and Duncan will be there too.

A must for all lovers of mainstream jazz and great jazz songs. With Howard Alden guitar, Jeanne Gies vocals, Gary Jackson, bass, Caroline Boaden drums this will be an intimate evening with one of America's best known jazz guitarists and Concord recording artist Howard Alden, in concert with New York jazz singer Jeanne Gies. Born in Newport Beach, California, in 1958, Howard began playing at age ten, inspired by recordings of Armstrong, Basie and Goodman, as well as those by guitarists Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt and George Van Eps. Soon he was working professionally around Los Angeles playing in groups ranging from traditional to mainstream to modern jazz. In 1979, Alden went east, for a summer in Atlantic City with Red Norvo, and continued to perform with him frequently for several years. Jeanne Gies is a fantastic jazz singer from New York – she has sung with the best including Bucky Pizzarelli and Joe Cohn as well as Howard. With support from Leeds jazz favourites the Ben Danzig/Julia Turner duo.

Tickets £15 or 12 concessionary price, with full time student tickets £5 on the door. Tickets available from Seven Arts bar, or tel 0113 26 26 777. We are offering two free hotel spaces in Leeds that night for people coming from distance who want to stay over – email through our website (www.sevenjazz.co.uk) with your ticket number if you want one – first come first served!

Jean and Howard will also be running a masterclass before the gig talking about guitars, accompanying singers, anything you’d like to know, come along and ask - it will be interesting. It will run 6.15-7.15pm - for more details see below.

Sunday afternoon May 1st 1-4pm Matt Anderson Quartet

Matt on sax, Aubin Vanns guitar, John Marley bass, Sam Gardiner drums. Matt is a good friend of Seven Jazz, He has appeared with his own quartet before as a student at Leeds College of Music and as a sideman in bands and big bands led by others. An LCM graduate he now performs with and composes for various projects around the UK, for example his new ‘Songs of the Ridings’ project commissioned by Creative North Yorkshire. Matt is a member of Jazz Yorkshire’s Futures scheme to help some of the best young musicians establish their careers in the region. Seven Jazz are right behind the Futures awards, we believe it is important to help develop our jazz talent. £5/4 on the door, kids under 16 free.

Sunday afternoon May 8th Salsa Como Loco Since 2006, Salsa Como Loco have been getting the party started across West Yorkshire. A 12 piece collaboration of musicians from various bands including the Peace Artistes, Bassa Bassa and Duende, their overpowering love of Cuban style salsa dance music is infectious. Influenced by Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Chano Pozo, Celia Cruz, they have put together a stonkin' dance set so come prepared to move – or just to enjoy. Price £5/4 on the door, kids under 16 freeSunday afternoon May 15th 1-4pm Djangonauts

Come and hear Andy Cholerton on accordian! Also Chris Walker guitar, Kevin Walker bass and Phil Johnson drums. Their contemporary take on the Gypsy Jazz style, original arrangements and virtuoso technique have delighted audiences throughout the north of England. Taking their lead from contemporary gypsy jazz masters such as Birelli Lagrene and Anglo Debarre the band has a fresh modern sound but is firmly rooted in the style of the legendary Manouche Guitar Virtuoso Django Reinhardt. Tickets £5/4 on the door, kids under 16 free.

Thursday evening, May 19th, 8pm Arnie Somogyi’s Scenes in the City – the music of Charlie Mingus

With Arnie Somogyi bass, Alan Barnes saxophones, Tony Kofi saxophones, Jeremy Price trombone, Mark Edwards piano, Clark Tracey drums. A UK jazz super group, Scenes in the City, led by bassist Arnie Somogyi, combine the talents of some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians in an all-star line-up, playing music of the great composer and bassist, Charles Mingus. The gig includes an appearance by Seven favourites Alan Barnes Clark Tracey and Tony Kofi plus a first at Seven for pianist Mark Edwards. Expect to hear familiar jazz favourites such as ‘Boogie Stop Shuffle’, ‘Fables of Faubus’ and ‘Better Get Hit in Your Soul’ played with the freedom and drive that define one of the most important and colourful figures in Jazz.

Tickets £15 or 12 concessionary price, with full time student tickets £5 on the door. Tickets available from Seven Arts bar, or tel 0113 26 26 777

Sunday afternoon May 22nd 1-4pm Garforth Jazz Rock Orchestra

You asked for them again-here they are! Garforth Jazz Rock Band is a community/youth big band with members from Leeds, Wakefield and the surrounding region. GJRB was formed in the October of 2003. Since this time the band has performed on more than 125 individual occasions! The band has had two tours, the most recent to Durban earlier this year. The band is directed by jazz pianist and festival organiser (also leader of the Fruit Tree band) Dave Evans who is constantly looking for new members to join this exciting, eclectic and sometimes anarchic band.Tickets £5/4 on the door, kids under 16 free.

Sunday afternoon May 29th 1-4pm Kim Macari’s Big Band play the music of Duncan Lamont

Kim Macari is a fine young Scottish trumpet player and she is bringing a big band of Leeds College students to Seven to pay homage to one of Scotland's finest arrangers Duncan Lamont. The band will play Duncan's "Carnival of the Animals" suite. When Gil Evans in a magazine interview was asked who his favourite contemporary writer was, he quoted Duncan Lamont. Duncan was born in Greenock, Scotland. He played trumpet with Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists changed to tenor sax became a jazz studio player. Played with almost everyone in show business. He has worked (often as a featured soloist) with Henry Mancini, Robert Farnon, Benny Goodman, Gil Evans, Bill Holman, Nelson Riddle, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby, Count Basie, Fred Astaire, Benny Carter, Mel Torme, Paul McCartney, the list is endless. And Duncan has said he will be there at the gig to make it a very special occasion - not to be missed. Tickets £5/4 on the door, kids under 16 free

Our jazz workshopsat Seven continue for people who want to learn about jazz or to play jazz.

Thursday 28th April Howard Alden guitar masterclass 6.15 to 7.15pm Howard Alden is one of America's best known jazz guitarists, and he will be performing a concert for Seven Jazz at Seven Arts on Thursday 28th April with his trio and New York singer Jeanne Gies. He has agreed to share some of his knowledge and experience in a one hour masterclass at 6.15pm prior to the concert. In the masterclass Howard is happy to answer questions; he can talk about playing the 7 string quitar, his playing and coaching work on Sweet and Lowdown, plus ideas and tips about playing with a vocalist. No need to bring instruments, as the session is only one hour. All welcome, not just guitarists! Cost of masterclass £8/6 concessions. Book with Jean Watson jeanwatsonlifeskills@hotmail.com or 0113 237 0700 or just turn up on the night.

The workshops cost £10/£8 concessions. Workshop members need to have some experience of playing (say a couple of years), and an interest in jazz, though not necessarily in playing it – just a willingness to have a go! Some reading experience useful but not essential.

Please reserve your place so that we have an idea of numbers & instruments. For further information & bookings contact Jean Watson by email at jeanwatsonlifeskills@hotmail.com or phone 0113 237 0700. Or speak to us at our Sunday afternoon jazz! All these workshops are at Seven Arts, 31A Harrogate Road, Leeds, LS7 3PD (0113 26 26 777).

Dominic Moore runs a jazz workshop/improvisation group at the Methodist Centre, Chapel Allerton on the following Friday dates in 2011 (£5 per session) 7.30-10pm

29th April (if people will still want to play on day of the Royal Wedding!)

Monday, 18 April 2011

Hello again YGGJust a reminder about this Thursday (April 21st) the day before Good Friday, Crown of Lights Music Events launch their first ever tribute night!

Hope you can make it!DonalPRESS RELEASE...
Featuring the outstanding Stone Roses tribute band 'THE STONED ROSES' as well as the ever popular local covers band 'THE BRITROCKS' in support. It is sure to be an amazing night.

For The Crown of Lights, who organize the summer festivals in Green Park Heckmondwike, as well as the hugely popular monthly acoustic and band nights at The Comrades Club, this is a exciting new venture. Donal O'Driscoll from Crown of Lights said, "Over the past three years we have built up a solid reputation for delivering top quality music events. Working with the best tribute bands is a natural progression for us which is good for the town and the club'"

The Britrocks bass player Adam Jowett, who is promoting for The Crown of Lights, says ' the idea is to attract top quality artists to Heckmondwike at an affordable price to run along side the Crown of Lights quality free music events."
"Instead of local people having to travel to Leeds or further afield to see these top acts we want to bring them to your doorstep."

Tickets are £5 and are available in advance from The Comrades Club on Regent Street Heckmondwike (01924 403672), The Swan Liversedge (01924 401855), and on the the night subject to availability.

The Crown of Lights hope to announce further quality tribute nights in the future.

Thursday, 14 April 2011

Over the course of 4 nights from the 4th to the 7th of April at the Irish Centre in Leeds 40 hopeful young bands vied for a place in the grand final which will be held on 19th July which will be held at the O2 in Leeds.

On the night that Yorkshire Gig Guide attended we were impressed by the wealth of local musical talent from the 10 young hopeful acts striving to gain one of the 10 places in the final - the prize for which will be a chance to perform at Leeds and Reading Festivals 2011. For a list of finalists go to the Centre Stage Facebook page.

We were able to interview one of the judges, Micky Thompson. (You can see this interview by visiting the Yorkshire Gig Guide site.) He informed us about future events including the 2nd Leeds Festival Fringe - to be held in the week commencing the 18th August and as part of this, on the 20th August Leeds City will be taken over by a wealth of busking tallent at over 20 sites around its centre,

a "Rock and Rail Festival" in Keighley from 10th to 12th June - more information also from the "Rock and Rail" website.

We would like to thank Centre Stage and Micky Thompson for a great evening's entertainment and would like to take this opportunity to wish all the finalists well.

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿Alan Bennett's play 'The Lady in the Van' motored on to Hull Truck theatre's stage deftly steered by Director Sarah Esdaile and Tuesdays wittily gentle and beguiling performance will surely attract large audiences.

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Photo by Keith Pattison Nichola McAuliffe as Miss Shepherd

All the action takes place in Alan Bennett's study or his small garden where Miss Shepherd one day parks her van and then remains for the next fifteen years. The play wittily and sensitively tells the story of those years.

﻿﻿It's customary when reviewing to mention actors, yet the cast was transformed as actors vanished and the audience was drawn in to the unfolding human drama where James Holmes revealed a witty, confident, mischeivous Alan Bennett whilst Paul Kemp portrayed a timid, reserved Alan Bennett with facial expressions and body language displaying determined open mindedness and character. Together they showed different sides of the man. The writer in his imagination and the shy reserved man when confronted with his own social realities. Nichola McAuliffe simply became Miss Shepherd, vulnerable yet strong, reclusive, obstinately deluded, trucculent and infurinatingly independent.

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Nichola McAuliffe as Miss Shepherd
Photo by Keith Pattison

﻿Alan Bennett's aspiring upwardly mobile neighbours, Pauline and Rufus, played loud and brash by Emma Gregory and portrayed as over bearing and snobbish by Benedict Sandiford provide a neighbourly social view point. The mysterious stranger Fairchild who appears in the night, played evil and nasty by Martin Wimbush gives the story a plot and a mystery to be unravelled by the plays end.

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Nichola McAuliffe as Miss Shepherd
Photo by Keith Pattison

The stage setting by Ben Stones, lighting by Chris Davey and sound by Peter Rice wonderfully enhance the actions of the play. The house is dark and bleak, the study a small cluttered desk and paper bin. When Miss Shepherd drove the bright yellow tattered van on stage with such aplomb and style she drew a ripple of applause from the audience.

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Nichola McAuliffe as Miss Shepherd
Photo by Keith Pattison

﻿ This play wittily and sensitively tells a story of a remarkable woman and also explores how a writer represents real people, real experiences and the uneasy route through which that reality becomes fiction.

Alan Bennett may have been exploring verisimilitude, but what he gives us is simple honest human truth, a beautiful production by Hull Truck Theatre. I enjoyed this play, it's pleasure remains with me as I write. I recommend a drive to Hull Truck for a delightful and uplifting evening out.

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

Hi again YorkshireGigGuideThe Crown of Lights BAND NIGHT - April 2011 is here !!!!!Yes, another night of the most excellent LIVE music you will witness anywhere. Three MIGHTY bands and a very unique acoustic(ish) duo. Set in a fantastic, easy to find venue with great cheap ale :DThis month we have two awesome Crown of Light favourites, and one band popping it's Crown of Lights cherry ! Our between-the-bands duo are also coming to us for the first time. Very exciting !!!First up for the bands will be the every popular alt/rock band, ANOTHER WASTED SUMMER returning on the back of previous outstanding performances for us. Then we will have the much anticipated Bradford outfit, TI AMO. Currently setting the music scene alight with their fantastic music and mesmorising live performances.Finishing for the bands will be the mighty local supergroup, COMMONSIDE. Veterans of the Crown of Lights, they have something for everyone and always deliver the goods. Great way to finish the night.Playing between the bands will be the spellbinding, THE HOLISTICS. With the very unique voice of Tony Cree and the virtuistic guitar stylings of Martin Gannon, this is a duo not to be missed.So, as usual, entry is FREE as a bird, ale is good and cheap, and the music not to be missed. No brainer really - be there or be somewhere really bab instead !P.The Comrades Club
Regent Street
Heckmondwike
West Yorks WF16 0HD - 01924 403672 Friday 15th AprilDoors open 7:30pm Free Entry!

Friday, 1 April 2011

We had a wonderful evening of music at Greystones Pub in Sheffield, a warm friendly atmosphere and glorious locally brewed beers to choose from.

Greystones is a large friendly pub with a cosy 'Backroom' concert area with stage, all nice and intimate with good sound acoustics.

Singer songwriter Rosie Doonan accompanied by Sam Lawrence of Wilful Missing who played a selection of instruments including accordion and wind pipes and singer songwriter and guitarist Gary Stewart sang a range of their own songs.

Rosie sang with expressive soulful heartfelt voice, intonations of blues and folk underpinning her contemporary lyrics accompanied by sometimes poignant sometimes up beat always dynamic vocal harmonies of Sam and Gary. The vocal harmonising was mesmerising with complementary deep tones, mid ranges and high clear notes combining into a delicious warmth of music. How could anyone resist, not the audience who were captivated and enchanted.

Roger Davies singer songwriter was up next with rhythmic playing of the guitar, fun looking laid back sonorous voice singing songs with warmth and affection about his local towns and experiences. His stories clearly sung and not a punchline missed.

A real treat of a night,don't miss any chance you get of seeing these fine singer songwriters.